Systems and methods for facilitating the creation, ordering, processing and delivery of personalized bereavement packages

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for allowing users to obtain personalized bereavement packages for a deceased individual. The present invention further provides, inter alia, a bereavement package ordering platform adapted to assist users with the selection, personalization and ordering of bereavement products and services and can generate bereavement package data based on the plurality of package selections received from the user. The bereavement package data includes product selection data indicating a plurality of print-based bereavement products selected or input by the user and product personalization data representing user content for inclusion in one or more of the print-based bereavement products. The bereavement package data can be provided to a printing vendor to produce the plurality of print-based bereavement products for delivery of the plurality of print-based bereavement products to an individual organizing a service.

1 . A system for allowing users to obtain personalized bereavement packages, the system comprising
 a computing device having physical memory storing instructions that cause the computing device to:
 provide a bereavement package ordering platform adapted to assist users with the selection, personalization and ordering of bereavement products and services; 
 receive, from a user, a request to create a personalized bereavement package through the bereavement package ordering platform for an individual organizing a memorial service; 
 receive, from the user, memorial service data; 
 determine a plurality of bereavement products and services for presentation to the user based on the memorial service data; 
 receive, from the user, a plurality of package selections pertaining to the plurality of presented bereavement products and services; 
 generate bereavement package data based on the plurality of package selections received from the user, the bereavement package data including:
 product selection data indicating a plurality of print-based bereavement products selected by the user; and 
 product personalization data representing user-defined content for inclusion with one or more of the print-based bereavement products; and 
 
 wherein the bereavement package data enables a printing vendor to produce the plurality of print-based bereavement products for delivery to the individual organizing the memorial service. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bereavement package ordering platform is a web based service accessed by users through a network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bereavement products and services are selected from the group consisting of: order of service cards, attendance cards, thank you cards, envelopes, a condolence book, a memorial photo album, a memorial DVD, a keepsake box, a memorial website, remote access/interactive service, and e-cards. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the print-based bereavement products are selected from the group consisting of: order of service cards, attendance cards, thank you cards, envelopes, a condolence book, a memorial photo album, and a keepsake box. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user-defined content is selected from the group consisting of: an image, a song, a poem, a hymn, a quote, a reading, and a video. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bereavement package data further includes product design data representing a user defined layout for one or more of the plurality of print-based bereavement products. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user is selected from the group consisting of: an employee of a funeral home, an employee of the printing vendor, and the individual organizing the memorial service. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further adapted to:
 provide a bereavement package processing platform adapted to assist one or more users of the funeral home with managing and tracking a plurality of bereavement packages created, personalized, and ordered through the bereavement package ordering platform.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printing vendor maintains and hosts the bereavement package ordering platform. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further adapted to receive a selection from the user to package and deliver the plurality of print-based bereavement products in a bereavement box. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further adapted to receive a selection from the user of a bereavement package theme and wherein the plurality of bereavement products and services are determined at least in part on the selected theme. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein providing the bereavement package data comprises:
 generating an electronic sample associated with one or more of the plurality of print-based bereavement products;   sending the electronic sample to the user; and   providing, in response to receiving confirmation from the user, the bereavement package data to the printing vendor.   
     
     
         13 . A method for allowing users to obtain personalized bereavement packages, the method comprising:
 providing on a computing device a bereavement package ordering platform adapted to assist users with the selection, personalization and ordering of bereavement products and services;   receiving, from a user, a request to create a personalized bereavement package through the bereavement package ordering platform for an individual organizing a memorial service;   receiving, from the user, memorial service data;   determining a plurality of bereavement products and services for presentation to the user based on the memorial service data;   receiving, from the user, a plurality of package selections pertaining to the plurality of presented bereavement products and services;   generating bereavement package data based on the plurality of package selections received from the user, the bereavement package data including:
 product selection data indicating a plurality of print-based bereavement products selected by the user; and 
 product personalization data representing user-defined content for inclusion in one or more of the print-based bereavement products; and 
   wherein the bereavement package data enables a printing vendor to produce the plurality of print-based bereavement products for delivery to the individual organizing the memorial service.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bereavement package ordering platform is a web based service accessed by users through a network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bereavement products and services are selected from the group consisting of: order of service cards, attendance cards, thank you cards, envelopes, a condolence book, a memorial photo album, a memorial DVD, a keepsake box, a memorial website, remote access/interactive service, and e-cards. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bereavement package data further includes product design data representing a user defined layout for one or more of the plurality of print-based bereavement products. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user is selected from the group consisting of: an employee of a funeral home, an employee of the printing vendor, and the individual organizing the memorial service. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is further adapted to receive a selection from the user of a bereavement package theme and wherein the plurality of bereavement products and services are determined at least in part on the selected theme.